Open Strings
See Open Notes (I).
Oesten, Theodor. Composer, pianist; Germany. B. 1813; d. 1870. Offenbach, Jacques. Composer, conductor, violoncellist; Germany. B. 1819; d. 1880.
OPHICLEIDE The Opera (It.) [from Lat., opus, work]. A combination of music and drama in which the music is not merely an incidental, but the predominant element. The opera originated in an attempt to revive what was supposed to be the manner in which the classic Greek drama was performed. The efforts of the group of musical enthusiasts who made this attempt culminated in the production of "Euridice," in 1600, the first Italian opera ever performed in public.
The ground being broken, new cultivators soon appeared, and the new plant grew rapidly. Peri, the composer of "Euridice," was succeeded first by Gagliano, then by Monteverde, one of the great names in music. In his hands the opera developed with extraordinary rapidity. Before the close of the 17th century a host of operawriters appeared, led by Scarlatti. The next important development in the form of opera was made by Lulli, the court-musician of Louis XIV. No very striking advance was now made until Händel appeared. He did little in the way of developing the form, but infused so much genius into the received form that it gave it a new life. In this respect Händel resembled Mozart, who, at a later stage of the development of the opera, was quite satisfied to take the then received form, which his genius sufficed to make immortal. The first decided departure from the traditional form was made by Gluck, whose theory of dramatic music is strongly akin to the modern theory of Wagner. The opera since Mozart has grown with so much luxuriance, in such a diversity of forms, that even a slight sketch of it would be impossible in our limits. Appended will be found the names of the principal varieties.